Convertible couch



Nov. 7, 1967 G. s. FASANELLA 35350,?25

CONVERTIBLE COUCH I Filed Oct. 2l, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 faQ/eva??? y @wipe @5J/229m e@ K @f /@M/ fw@ Ma Magg/s.

Nov 7, 1967 G. s. FASANELLA 3,350,725

CONVERTIBLE COUCH Filed oct. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 7, 1967 G. s. FAsANr-:LLA

CONVERTIBLE COUCH 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Oct. 2l, 1965 I nizw fifa* United States Patent 3,356,725 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 hice 3,350,725 CGNVERTIBLE COUCH George S. Fasanella, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Englander Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,317 4 Claims. (Cl. 5-12) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A convertible lounge bed of the twin bed type in which the individual bed units can be locked adjacent to or separated from each other in continuation of their respective attachment to a base unit, pivot means swingably connecting one of the bed units to the base unit and cooperating sets of track and roller means connecting the other bed unit to the base unit, one set of track and roller means being selectively disengageable to permit translation of said other bed unit.

This invention relates to a couch, and more specifically to a sectional couch which can be converted from a sofa to' two beds.

It is common in hotels, motels, efliciency apartments, and homes to utilize the same piece of furniture as a sofa during the day and as a bed at night. The environment in which such a piece of furniture is utilized often makes it desirable that there be sleeping facilities for two people provided in a minimum amount of space. An eicient way to utilize the two beds during the day is as a sectional sofa. The various sections of the sofa should be lixed relative to each other, during the day, so that they will not slide apart in use. However, it is often desirable at night, to have two beds which can be separated from each other. At other times, it may be desirable to have the two beds adjacent to each other.

Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide a couch which can be converted into sleeping facilities for two people at night and which can be used as a sectional sofa during the day.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible couch having two sections which are iixed relative to each other for daytime use as a sofa.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible couch having two sections which may be utilized as twin beds located adjacent to, or separated from, each other.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a convertible couch arranged for daytime use as a sectional sofa;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of'a convertible couch arranged for use as twin beds which are separated from each other; Y

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the convertible couch arranged as twin beds which are adjacent to each other;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of the means for connecting the two sections of the couch to the base member;

FIGS. 5 to l0 are detailed sectional views of the means utilized to connect the base member to the two sections of the convertible couch.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a convertible couch which has two sectional members 1 and 2 and a base member 3 which are arranged for daytime use as a sectional sofa. The sofa, as is seen in FIG. 1, consists of one section which is parallel to the base means, and another sectional member which is perpendicular to the base means. In FIG. 2,

the convertible couch is shown with the sectional members 1 and 2 arranged as twin beds which are separated from each other. In FIG. 3, the two sectional members are arranged as twin beds which are adjacent to each other. It is readily apparent that the sectional sofa of FIG. 1 provides for an eiiicient utilization of the available living space. When the convertible couch is converted from the 'sectional sofa of FIG. 1 to the twin bed arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, comfortable sleeping facilities are provided for two people in the same amount of space as was utilized for the sectional sofa of FIG. l. The base member 3 is adapted for use as a storage means for the bedding during the day when the convertible couch is used as a lsectional sofa.

The means for connecting the two sectional members to the base member is shown in perspective in FIG. 4. The sectional member 1 is connected to the base member 3 by means of two pivoting links 4 and 5. The two links are pivoted to the bottom of the sectional member 1 and to the base means 3, as is seen in FIG. 8. When the sectional member 1 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 3, the two pivoting links 4 and 5 retain the proper relationship between the sectional member 1 and the base member 3. When the sectional member 1 is in the position of FIG. l the links are in a position directly adjacent to the base member, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 8. When the sectional member 1 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 3, the two links 4 and 5 pivot to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base member, as shown in FIG. 8 by phantom lines.

The sectional member 2 is connected to the base member 3 through the use of track and roller means. The xed track 6 is attached ot the base cross member 7, as is seen in FIG. 8. The fixed track 6 extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the base member and is bent at the corner 8. The track brace 9 retains the outer end of the track 6 in a :fixed position relative to the base cross member 7. The iixed track 6 is supported from the floor by the two feet 16. The sectional member 2 has a pair 0f pivotable rollers, as shown in FIG. 6, which are guided for movement by the side portion 11 of the fixed track 6. The two rollers 12 and 13 contact opposite surfaces of the side portion 11 of the xed track 6. The two rollers 12 and 13 are mounted on the support member 14 which ispivoted to the `bracket 15 by the pin 16. Thus, the two rollers are free to pivot relative to the sectional member 2 when the rollers are guided around the corner 8 of the track 6 and when the sectional member 2 is swung outwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The movable track 1'7 is mounted on the sectional member 2 and is guided by the roller 1S which is attached to the fixed track 6 by the support plate 19. When the sectional member 2 is swung from the po sition shown in FIG. l to the position shown in FIG. 2, the movable track 17 guides the sectional member 2 so that the initial movement of the member must be outward from the base member 3 and then the sectional member 2 must be swung relative to the base member 3 (see FIG. 8). The movable track 17 and the roller 18 tend to retain the sectional member 2 in the position shown in FIG. l, unless the sectional member is deliberately pulled outward from the base member 3.

The two sectional members 1 and 2 are latched in the position shown in FIG. 1 by the latch means which is detailed in FIG. 7. Each sectional member has a roller Ztl attached to the base of the member. These rollers ride up on the ramps 21 of the base member. The rollers will drop into retaining openings 22 of the ramps and thus latch the two sectional members in the position shown in FIG. l. The latch roller is xed to the right-hand corner (as seen in FIG. 8) of the sectional member 1. The ramp member 22 is `attached to the base cross member 7 at the right-hand end of the base member, as is seen in FIG. 4. The latch means for the sectional member 2 is attached to the outermost left-hand corner of the sectional member 2, as shown in FIG. 4. The ramp means 21 for the roller of the sectional member 2 is located on the left-hand portion of the cross member 7 (see FIG. 8).

-It should be noted that the two latch members 20 are positioned on their respective sectional members so as to retain the sectional members in the position shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the two Sections of the sofa, of FIG. 1, are restrained against movement relative to each other.

The two sectional members 1 and 2 are independently supported from the floor by the casters 23 which are mounted on the four corners of each of the sectional members 1 and 2. It is apparent that each of the sectional members 1 and 2 can be utilized separately from the base member 3. The sectional member 1 can be disconnected from the base 3 by the simple expedient of lifting the links 4 and 5 vertically so that the pin 24 is removed from the socket in the base cross member 7 (see FIG. 10). Thus, the sectional member 1 may be disconnected from the base and used entirely separate from the base and the other sectional member 2.

The sectional member 2 may also be disconnected from the base 3 and used independently of the sectional member 1. To disconnect the sectional member 2 from the base 3, it is only necessary to lift the sectional member 2 vertically. Asis seen in FIG. 6, the two casters 12 and 13 will, upon vertical displacement, become entirely free from the fixed track 6. The movable track 17 will also, upon vertical displacement, become free for movement independently of its roller 18. Thus, the sectional member 2 may -be disconnected from the base member 3 merely by lifting it vertically at the left end, as shown in FIG. 5.

By being relatively easily disconnected from the base member 3, the two sectional members 1 and 2 may be utilized in different rooms from each other, and from the base member 3. The two foot board members of the twin beds, as seen in FIG. 2 can be utilized as head boards when the two sectional members are disconnected from the base means 3. Thus, the convertible couch of FIG. 1 may be utilized as a sofa, as shown in FIG. 1; or as twin beds `which are separated from each other but utilizing a common headboard, as shown in FIG. 2; or Ias twin beds which are adjacent to each other and utilizing the same headboard, as shown in FIG. 3; or the two sectional members may be disconnected from the base member 3 and used independently of each other and the base member 3.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, since many modifications may be made; and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible couch comprising first and second sectional members, rollable means supporting said members, base means, and means operatively connecting said sectional members to said base means so that said sectional members are movable relative to each other in the sleep mode while remaining operatively connected to said base means, said means for connecting said first sectional member to said base means comprising pivot means for directing said irst sectional member in a fixed arc of movement between a sleep mode position and a sleep mode position and said means for connecting said second sectional member to said base means comprising first track means ixed to one of said base means and said second member, first roller means mounted on the other of said base means and second member rollably to engage said rst track means in a continuous manner, second track means xed to one of said second member, said first track means and said base means, and second roller means lixed to a different one of said second member, said first track means and said base means and positioned to be selectively engaged with said second track means for cooperating with said iirst track and roller means in directing swinging movement of said second member and to be selectively disengaged from said second roller means to permit substantially rectilinear movement of said second sectional member relative said rst sectional member in the sleep mode.

2. A convertible couch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivot comprises a pair of links which are substantially parallel to each other and pivotably connected to said base means and to said first Sectional member.

3. A convertible couch as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises first latch means provided to retain said tirst sectional member with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said base member and second latch means provided to retain said second sectional member with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base means.

4. The convertible couch set forth in claim 3, wherein said iirst and second latch means comprises roller means operatively connected to said sectional members and ramp means operatively connected to the end portions of said base means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,902 2/1949 Klein 312-343 X 2,691,174 10/1954 Harrison 5 18 X 2,783,480 3/1957 Shankman 5 8 X 2,784,404 3/1957 Shankman 5 20 3,049,723 8/ 1962 Thierfelder 5 8 3,055,017 9/1962 Thierfelder 5 2 3,110,909 11/1963 Bendell 5 8 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONVERTIBLE COUCH COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONAL MEMBERS, ROLLABLE MEANS SUPPORTING SAID MEMBERS, BASE MEANS, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONAL MEMBERS TO SAID BASE MEANS SO THAT SAID SECTIONAL MEMBERS ARE MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN THE SLEEP MODE WHILE REMAINING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE MEANS, SAID MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FIRST SECTIONAL MEMBER TO SAID BASE MEANS COMPRISING PIVOT MEANS FOR DIRECTING SAID FIRST SECTIONAL MEMBER IN A FIXED ARC OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN A SLEEP MODE POSITION AND A SLEEP MODE POSITION AND SAID MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND SECTIONAL MEMBER TO SAID BASE MEANS COMPRISING FIRST TRACK MEANS FIXED TO ONE OF SAID BASE MEANS AND SAID SECOND MEMBER, FIRST ROLLER MEANS MOUNTED ON THE OTHER OF SAID BASE MEANS AND SECOND MEMBER ROLLABLY TO ENGAGE SAID FIRST TRACK MEANS IN A CONTINUOUS MANNER, SECOND TRACK MEANS FIXED TO ONE OF SAID SECOND MEMBER, SAID FIRST TRACK MEANS AND SAID BASE MEANS, AND SECOND ROLLER MEANS FIXED TO A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID SECOND MEMBER, SAID FIRST TRACK MEANS AND SAID BASE MEANS AND POSITIONED TO BE SELECTIVELY ENGAGED WITH SAID SECOND TRACK MEANS FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST TRACK AND ROLLER MEANS IN DIRECTING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND MEMBER AND TO BE SELECTIVELY DISENGAGED FROM SAID ROLLER MEANS TO PERMIT SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND SECTIONAL MEMBER RELATIVE SAID FIRST SECTIONAL MEMBER IN THE SLEEP MODE. 